Caterpillar leaf

Caterpillar leaf, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Cora discovered this leaf while exploring the hillside in Gma and Gdad's back yard. A group of little caterpillar type worms had systematically eaten their way through the chlorophyll surface of the leaf, leaving a swath of bare scaffolding in their wake.

School is out now, and both kids are home for a week or two before Cora starts the first of her three summer camps. Life has been eventful already, as it always is with two kids on the loose.

Yesterday morning Kate made some toast and then walked out of the kitchen for a minute. A few moments later she heard Oliver howling in pain in the kitchen. She found Oliver on the floor, clutching his hand, and a rock in the toaster. Our toaster is on a scaffold type shelf, and he just got strong enough to scale it. He got a pretty nasty burn on his hand, but it will heal in no time. And I'm sure he won't toast any more rocks.

Cora's Treasures

2007_0528_175906AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Cora's thoughts on marriage

Cora, this morning as I was brushing her hair before school:
"Mommy, can I live with you forever?"
Me:
"Of course you can."
Cora:
"I never want to get married."
Me:
"That's fine -- you don't have te get married if you don't want to."
Cora:
"Maybe I'd marry Ben (her best buddy of 3 years), but he's going to marry Mohini. I'll make him marry me, that fudgeball."

And so it goes...

Father and Son

2007_0513_140339AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Pictures with Daddy are pretty rare because I'm usually the one behind the camera. Figured it was worth documenting.

This flurry of posts comes from the Mothers Day Peace Parade, which Kate helped organize last year(and this year too) as the local outreach of a national organization called Mothers Acting Up(MAU). It grew out of an idea that she had, or maybe just an urge, to get more involved in the community and speak up for what she believes in.

Over the last year it has been beautiful to see the group of wonderful people that have joined the movement here. Soon after hatching the idea last year,Kate met Paige LaGrone Babcock, another local mom who has become a close friend and the heart of the Nashville MAU engine that makes things happen. It has been amazing to watch a community sprout around a wish, and it continues to evolve. Go Mamas!

Be sure to click on the picture, as there about 120 photos or so from the parade. Enjoy!

How cute is this!?!

2007_0513_135906AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Mothers Day Parade

2007_0513_130249AA, originally uploaded by Wingates.

Cora didn't break her foot.

Last week we were at her gymnastics class and her teacher invited her to switch to a more advanced group. Cora was delighted. The new class is 90 minutes instead of 45, and she will learn more advanced techniques and "real" gymnastic moves. She went to her first class Thursday and did great. She balanced upside down on the balance beam (with her teacher's assistance), did back bends and all kinds of fun stuff. She has really taken to gymnastics and seems really excited about the prospect of learning more. She's a natural out there on the mat.

Oliver is a full blown two year old. When he's happy he's still the sweetest boy on Earth. But as soon as he thinks of something he wants he starts whining like it has already been denied him.

Cora and Oliver have already been fighting like cats and dogs this morning. Kate has memories of Cousins Kim and Rusty fighting each other in a blur of arms and hair. We're headed that way. So far no physical assaults, but lots of perceived injustice. Everything has to be fair!